Moderated by Sean Meagher, Executive Director of Social Planning TorontoFriday, April 21, 2017The Branson Community Action Group (BCAG) has been formed by the residents of Bathurst-Finch area after learning that the Branson Urgent Care Centre is being closed down by North York General Hospital.On March 1, 2017 Mr. Tim Rutledge, CEO of North York General Hospital announced through the hospital website that the Urgent Care Centre of North York General hospital would be closing effective June 1, 2017.The services provided by the centre will be transferred to the North York General Hospital main campus at Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East at least for the foreseeable future. Residents are crying foul for such short notice with no community consultation, and are mobilizing opposition to the closure.What: A resident led town hall to obtain and organize public input on the closure of the Branson Division of North York General Hospital.Where: Northview Heights Secondary School (550 Finch Avenue West), AuditoriumWhen: April 24, 2017, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Further background:The Branson Community Action Group feels that the Branson Urgent Care Centre is an important part of this neighbourhood providing necessary medical services within reasonable walking distances to a community with a high concentration of seniors, disabled and new Canadian residents and families of limited income.BCAG feels that closure of the Urgent Care Centre would cause a great hardship in the community that might lead to avoidable deaths due to a lack of easy access to emergency medical care. It is the feeling of BCAG that the Urgent Care Centre should remain open to serve the community for the foreseeable future, as BCAG believes that the Bathurst-Finch neighbourhood should remain a walkable neighbourhood.BCAG feels it is important to at least postpone the official closure of the Urgent Care Centre to October of 2017 to allow a reasonable amount of time for public consultation on the matter. It is the hope of BCAG and the affected community that, with proper public consultation, a different solution to providing the medical needs of this area can be found.Media contacts:Ms. Vicki Jewt, Co-chairperson BCAGvictoriaajds@gmail.comKenneth Schafer, Co-chairperson BCAGdrkschafer@rogers.comBranson Community Action Group